The Destruction of Evidence

The story of the 2007-2008 NFL season was the "pursuit of perfection" by the leagues "best" team, the New England Patriots. Led by the golden boy Tom Brady, and one of the leagues most talented wideout's Randy Moss, the unit went 18-0 until they were upset by the battle tested road warriors; the New York Giants. Putting aside the fact that Super Bowl XLII had one of the most exciting 4th quarter upsets in recent memory, and that Mercury Morris and the 1972 Dolphins are now able to sit pretty and remain the only undefeated team in NFL history, might the biggest story of the 2007-2008 season be the cover-up of a cheating scandal now known as "Spygate?"



On Thursday February 14th, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell met with Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter in Washington D.C. to discuss the destruction of incriminating evidence regarding the New England Patriots on the basis of illegal video-taping practices. Acknowledged and caught in their week one meeting (Sept. 9) against the New York Jets this season, the Patriots were fined $250,000, penalized a first round draft pick, and head coach Bill Belichick received a hefty $500,000 fine. Yet, the story on capital hill concerns the destruction of all the evidence. "I'm determined to go forward," said Specter, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee. "You have answers and positions where (Goodell) is saying that with the destruction of tapes that, 'We did the right thing. We're absolutely sure." "Well, that is absurd, Goodell says things that don't make sense." Another thing bothering the Republican Senator is the fact that Goodell issued the penalties on Sept. 13, four full days before the Patriots even submitted the tapes and notes. Therefore a question is raised: Were Goodell and the NFL already aware of wrong-doing?



At the point in time in which the penalties came down on New England, Belichick admitted that he had been taping signals since he had come to the team in 2001, as he thought it was within the rules of the league as long as information was not used in the game at hand. The team reportedly handed over all notes and videotapes to league officials. On Thursday the commissioner told Specter that the evidence was destroyed for the simple fact that "There was no further use for it." Specter proclaims this "explanation" to be absurd and ridiculous. Another fishy activity was the fact that the evidence was destroyed on the Patriot home-front in Foxboro rather than the leagues New York Offices. With the evidence destroyed, Specter said there is no way to tell what advantage New England might have gained in the illegal taping practice.



The one individual that might be able to shed some real light on this topic is former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh. Specter believes the NFL has not done nearly enough to offer legal protection to Walsh who has reportedly told several sources that he may indeed have embarrassing information about the team's taping methods. "Matt Walsh is an important guy, and they have made it so conditional," Specter said. He went on to say: "All they got to do is say, 'We're not going to sue you.' It is not a big deal." The Senator has spoken with Mr. Walsh several times in the past week and reports that he understands the hesitation to make his information public because of the legal repercussions.

Yet, until Walsh comes forward, or a new lead presents itself, it seems to me that the NFL is advocating the existence of a cheater. The destruction of vital information concerning Spygate is simply sketchy. Cheating is cheating, whether it be one game, or an entire season. Did the New England Patriots use illegal methods studying the signals of other teams in order to gain an upper hand. Did they win all 18 games this season using an honest moral compass? Better yet, were the 3 Super Bowl victories and a seem-able dynasty a Milli-Vanilli type re-run? Only time will tell ..
-DP.